The negative streaks continue
©IMAGO
Ermedin Demirovic saved VfB Stuttgart from a home defeat against struggling TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and snatched a possible victory from under-pressure TSG coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. In the final action of the match, the VfB striker had his penalty denied by Hoffenheim’s aspiring national goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, but scored on the follow-up shot in the 9th minute of stoppage time to bring the final score at 1:1 (0:1).
Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma received the ball on his arm in stoppage time – according to video (Site notre bureau spécialisé)age, referee Harm Osmers pointed to the spot. Thanks to Valentin Gendrey (45th minute), Hoffenheim put Hoffenheim in the lead in front of 58,000 spectators. On the other hand, as in the 1-1 draw against Sparta Prague in the Champions League, VfB missed the home victory it was aiming for, is currently stuck in the middle of the table and missed the connection with the first third of the ranking. painting. Only one of the last five matches has been won.
It is not VfB goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, but TSG goalkeeper Baumann who will travel to the national team meeting in Herzogenaurach in Franconia this Monday with a victory before the Nations League double pack against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands. Baumann had received a guarantee for the first match from national coach Julian Nagelsmann as representative of Marc-André ter Stegen, who suffered a serious knee injury. Nübel is also hoping to make his first appearance in a DFB uniform.
In the first frenzied minutes, the two goalkeepers depended on the services of their teammates. First, Adam Hlozek had a great chance to take the lead for Hoffenheim by holding off Jeff Chabot and Nübel. Maximilian Mittelstädt had to clear the ball on the line for the beaten Nübel (4th). On the other side, Gendrey saved for Baumann after a header from VfB captain Atakan Karazor (8th). It was a lively start, after which TSG coach Matarazzo was forced to make a substitution early on. After only a quarter of an hour, Arthur Chaves replaced Tim Drexler, injured following a collision.
After the first hectic minutes, the pace slows down. Most of the action moved to Hoffenheim’s half as they defended with concentration. The Swabians had significantly more possession, but only a few good chances: Baumann was there to counter Mittelstädt’s long shot (33rd). After the next corner, the left-back’s shot went just wide of the left goal (34th). In addition, Stuttgart national striker Deniz Undav headed past the goal from five meters (40th).
VfB had five of the DFB team’s six professionals in the starting XI, with only Chris Führich coming on only at half-time. Of all Nagelsmann’s contingent, the previously outstanding Mittelstädt made a decisive error. He couldn’t control Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric’s pass, so Gendrey collected the ball and appeared free in front of Nübel. The Stuttgart goalkeeper had previously failed to distinguish himself – and then he was defeated. The visitors’ lead was a surprise.
Even after the break, VfB dominated the match and tried to equalize. However, the actions were often too imprecise. El Bilal Touré did not pose any major problems for Baumann after an hour. Many offensive changes made by VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß had no effect – until the penalty drama at the end.